Oil rig accidents are some of the most serious accidents in the oil and natural gas industry. Catastrophic disasters like the Deepwater Horizon disaster of 2010 are prime examples of how many workers can be killed and injured in oil rig accidents. Most accidents on oil rigs are simple accidents that do not cause oil spills or widespread injury, but these various accidents can still cause death or serious injury to a single worker or small group of oil workers. The Dallas oil rig accident lawyers at The Queenan Law Firm explain the most common causes for these kinds of accidents in the Texas offshore drilling industry.
What Causes Oil Drilling Rig Accidents and Injuries in TX?
The majority of injuries suffered in the oil industry are simple injuries that occur in things like slip and fall cases or because of negligent operation of machinery as opposed to burns and death from explosions and fires. The following list explains some of the more common causes of oil rig accidents, as well as some of the most serious causes of disasters on oil drilling platforms.
Slippery Surfaces
Oil rigs and the ships and oil barges used to transport staff and resources can become wet and slippery, risking serious injuries. The staff on a ship or offshore drilling rig may be used to the effects of bad weather or constant wetness of being out on the sea, but these conditions can cause serious dangers.
If you’re involved in a slip and fall or trip and fall accident, you could face head and brain injuries, concussions, back and spine injuries, broken bones, and other serious injuries. These results can keep you from working for a prolonged period while you heal up. More serious accidents can even cause wrongful death.
Employer Negligence
Many problems with safety come down to an employer’s failure to take care of their employees. OSHA and other state and federal agencies have workplace safety rules requiring employers to take certain precautions. Things like proper safety gear (hard hats, goggles, gloves), employee training, handrails, lighting, and supervision are all vital in keeping workers safe.
When employees fail to uphold these kinds of requirements, their employees can get hurt. Even routine, day to day tasks can become dangerous without the proper safety gear. If oil or other chemicals splash on your skin or in your eyes, you could face burns, irritation, or even blindness. More serious accidents can happen if there are no safety rails or hard hats to help keep people safe in the event of an emergency.
Coworker Negligence
Many accidents happen because coworkers fail to communicate or properly assess the risks to others. Driving a lift or moving a crane without properly clearing the area can put anyone potentially in the way in serious danger. Many of these issues cut off negligence from your employer and instead make the coworker responsible for your injuries. However, your employer may still share partial blame if the coworker lacked proper skill or training.
Employers are held to high standards of giving their employees proper training. They must also give this training in a language the coworker understands. If your employer hired a worker that they should have known was unsafe or lacked the proper training, they could be held responsible for their negligent hiring. If they fail to train your coworker properly, the employer may share some of the blame with the coworker.
Equipment Malfunction
While some equipment maintenance and upkeep may fall to staff and your employer, some problems may be inherent in the system that was installed or the machinery you use. Many power tools and other items used on an oil rig are manufactured goods. These are sometimes subject to serious design defects or manufacturing defects that make them dangerous. For example, if safety gear has a flaw, you may suffer serious injuries that the safety gear should have protected you from. Similarly, custom systems installed on the rig could have been negligently assembled or designed by the companies that built them.
If you were injured by a manufacturing defect, dangerous design, or lack of a warning on a product, you may be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the producer. You can also sue companies for negligently designing or installing things like safety or emergency systems.
Our Dallas Oil Worker Injury Lawyers Offer Free Consultations
If you or a loved one was injured working on an oil rig, or if a member of your family was killed in an oil rig accident, call our law offices today. The Queenan Law firm’s Arlington TX personal injury lawyer represents victims and their families and fight to get them the compensation they need for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering after a serious accident. To schedule a free consolation on your case, contact our law offices today at (817) 476-1797.